Bone

Six (6) publications meeting criteria for this review were available. Data suggest a beneficial relationship between dietary sources of lycopene and elevated plasma/serum concentrations of lycopene and bone health as measured by bone mass and markers of bone metabolism. Reducing oxidative stress is purported as a possible mechanism in managing cellular processes supporting bone health.

Plasma/Serum Lycopene and Disease Risk
Main findings

Data are suggestive.

    1. One (1) study showed an inverse relationship between plasma/serum lycopene and oxidative stress (protein thiols) and bone turnover markers (e.g. NTx).
    2. Two (2) studies showed lower serum lycopene in osteoporotic patients compared to control women.

    Summary of studies and outcomes

    • Number of studies = 3
    • Risk estimates (RE) = 3
      • (-) = 3
      • N = 0
      • (+) = 0
    • Risk estimates by Tomato or Lycopene category
      • √GT G. Tom = 0
      • √PT P. Tom = 0
      • √FT F. Tom = 0
      • √Lyco Lyco = 3 (-)

    Plasma/Serum Lycopene and Disease Risk

    This section critically evaluates the relationship between plasma/serum lycopene concentrations and bone health as measure by:

    Oxidative stress
    Bone turnover markers

    Disease
    type     		First
    Author     		Study Title and
    Complete Citation     		Date Abstract Study
    Type     		G.Tom
    +, N,     		P.Tom
    +, N,     		F.Tom
    +, N, -    		 Lyco
    +, N,     		Other
    +, N,
    Bone Maggio D Low levels of carotenoids and retinol in involutional osteoporosis. Maggio D, Polidori MC, Barabani M, Tufi A, Ruggiero C, Cecchetti R, Aisa MC, Stahl W, Cherubini A. Bone. 2006 Feb;38(2):244-8. Epub 2005 Sep 26. 2006 Previous epidemiological studies conducted in retinol-supplemented subjects showed an association between high serum levels or dietary intake of retinol and risk of hip fracture. On the other side, observational studies revealed that non-supplemented subjects with higher dietary intake of retinol lose less bone with age than subjects with lower intake. This discrepancy, currently unexplained, suggests that nutrition plays a major role in conditioning the effects of retinol on bone. Since retinol is derived from both retinoids--contained in animal food--and carotenoids--contained in vegetables and fruits--we evaluated a possible role of carotenoids in involutional osteoporosis. Therefore, plasma levels of beta-carotene and other carotenoids, in addition to those of retinol, were measured in free-living, non-supplemented, elderly women with or without severe osteoporosis. Plasma levels of retinol and of all carotenoids tested, with the exception of lutein, were consistently lower in osteoporotic than in control women. A weak association was found only between retinol and femoral neck bone mineral density in osteoporotic women. Our study suggests a bone sparing effect of retinol, to which the provitamin A activity of some carotenoids might have contributed. CC       (-)

    ↓ plasma [Lyco] in osteo women     		(-)

    ↓ plasma [carotinoid ] in
    osteo women

     

    Disease type First
    Author     		Study Title and Complete Citation Date Abstract Study Type G.Tom +, N, P.Tom +, N, F.Tom +, N, - Lyco +, N, Other
    +, N,
    Bone Yang Z Serum carotenoid concentrations in postmenopausal women from the United States with and without osteoporosis. Yang Z, Zhang Z, Penniston KL, Binkley N, Tanumihardjo SA. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2008 May;78(3):105-11. 2008 Antioxidant defenses may be compromised in osteoporotic women. Little is known about fruit and vegetable or carotenoid consumption among postmenopausal women. The primary carotenoids in human serum are alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin. This study investigated the interrelationships among serum carotenoid concentrations, fruit and vegetable intake, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (n = 59, 62.7 +/- 8.8 y). Bone density was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and osteoporosis diagnosis was based upon T-scores. Serum samples (n = 53) and three-day diet records (n = 49) were analyzed. Logistic regression analyzed differences between carotenoids after adjusting for serum retinol; supplement usage; milk, yogurt, fruit, and vegetable intake; and body mass index (BMI). Pearson statistics correlated carotenoids with specific fruit or vegetable intake. Serum lycopene concentrations were lower in the osteoporosis group than controls (p = 0.03). Beta-cryptoxanthin intake was higher in the osteoporosis group (p = 0.0046). Total fruit and vegetable intakes were correlated with serum lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin (p = 0.03, 0.006, respectively). Serum alpha-carotene concentration was associated with carrot intake, and zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin with lettuce intake. Carotenoids that may have beneficial skeletal effects are lower in women with osteoporosis. Research is needed to identify potential protective mechanisms or utilization of carotenoids during osteoporosis. CC         Serum [lyco] ↓in osteo group vs control
    Bone Rao LG Lycopene consumption decreases oxidative stress and bone resorption markers in postmenopausal women. Rao LG, Mackinnon ES, Josse RG, Murray TM, Strauss A, Rao AV. Osteoporos Int. 2007 Jan;18(1):109-15. Epub 2006 Aug 29. 2007 INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, and can be reduced by certain dietary antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant known to decrease the risk of age-related chronic diseases, such as cancer. However, the role of lycopene in osteoporosis has not yet been investigated.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 33 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years provided seven-day dietary records and blood samples. Serum samples were used to measure serum lycopene, lipid peroxidation, protein thiols, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx). The serum lycopene per kilogram body weight of the participants was grouped into quartiles and associated with the above serum parameters using one-way ANOVA and the Newman-Keuls post-test. RESULTS: The results showed that groups with higher lycopene intake, as determined from the dietary records, had higher serum lycopene (p<0.02). A higher serum lycopene was found to be associated with a low NTx (p<0.005). Similarly, groups with higher serum lycopene had lower protein oxidation (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: In conclusion, these results suggest that the dietary antioxidant lycopene reduces oxidative stress and the levels of bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women, and may be beneficial in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. CS        

    (-)

    ↑ serum [lyco] had ↓ ox stress ↓ NTx